Eligibility for R&D Incentives
Generally speaking, any business carrying out R&D in New Zealand may be eligible for R&D Incentives.
R&D can mean different things in different contexts. For example, the business, accounting and scientific worlds all have specific definitions of what R&D means.
To qualify for the R&D Tax Incentive, your activities need to meet key criteria. By ensuring your project aligns with these three principles, you'll be better positioned to demonstrate your eligibility for the RDTI. Here's a breakdown of what to consider:
01
The Objective
You are working toward the creation of a new or improved product, process, or service—or the development of new knowledge.
02
The Uncertainty
Your activity must face a scientific or technological uncertainty. This is a challenge that needs to be overcome to achieve your objective.
The Uncertainty can be characterised by:
No existing knowledge
You’ve conducted research, but no publicly available information or solution exists to address the uncertainty you’re facing.
Professional difficulty
Even a competent professional in the field cannot resolve the uncertainty using standard knowledge or techniques.
03
The Approach
Your method to solve this uncertainty must be systematic, meaning it is organized, planned, and involves a structured approach to formulating and testing possible solutions.
A systematic approach is necessary to develop new knowledge or test solutions where: